Lawn-coaster.



1 No. 895,569. PATENTEDAUG. 11, 1908.

A. LOMBARDO.

LAWN GOASTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24, 1907.

ifliasizf 0276502120.

AUGUST LOMBARDO, OF WASHINGTON, IOWA.

LAWN-COASTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Application filed August 24, 1907. Serial No. 390,035.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUeUsr LOMBARDO, a citizen of the United States, residing atVVashmgton, in the county of Washington and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Coasters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in lawn coasters, and has for its object the construction of a device employed for amusement, and which device comprises a minimum number of parts and is comparatively simple to construct and operate.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a lawn coaster, which is capable of being reciprocated or rolled back and forth upon a peculiarly-constructed support by the operator or operators in the carriage.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a lawn coaster constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fi 2 is a top plan view of the platform or support and showing a portion of the carriage mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken on line 3, 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of the carriage. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the angle-plates.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1, 1 designate the sides of the support or platform, and 2 the end-portions. The sides 1 and the ends 2 constitute a substantially rectangular frame. Intermediate the ends 1, there is formed a floor 3, constituted by, preferably, a plurality of transverse boards, the ends of which engage the inner edges of the sides 1 and said boards rest upon longitudinally-extending cleats 4. Each cleat is secured to the inner edge of a side 1 and between the upper and lower face thereof, Fig. 3. The floor 3 is provided for enabling the operator to shove the carriage longitudinally of the support or platform, as hereinafter described.

Extending longitudinally of the support or frame are rails 5; each rail is provided with an upper oval face. Each rail is substan tially semi-circular in cross-section, and is secured, by any suitable fastening means, to

the upper face of the longitudinally-extending side 1 of the support or framework. The framework is open at 6, 6, Fig. 2, whereby the weight of said framework is materially decreased.

The bodily-movable carriage comprises side-pieces 7, 7. Near the end of the sidepieces 7, 7, there are formed seats 8, which seats are provided with bottoms 9. A pair of detachable, vertical blocks or members 10 are secured below the seats and against the inner face of the sides 7 by any suitable detachable fastening means, as for instance bolts 11. The blocks or members 10 constitute reinforcing means for the sides 7, be sides said blocks also constitute a flange or support for the seats 9, as said seats rest upon the upper edges of the blocks. Further more, the blocks 10 constitute journals for shafts 12, and which shafts are journaled in suitable apertures 13 formed near end of the blocks. By detaching the blocks 10, the shafts 12 can be detached from the carriage, and if it is desired to assemble said shafts 10 with the carriage, it is only necessary to place the blocks 10 upon the outer ends of the shafts and then secure the blocks to the sides 7. The grooved wheels 14 are, preferably, fixedly secured to the axles 12.

To each end of the carriage, I, preferably, secure a pair of coil springs, and each pair is secured to the platform or support near one of its ends. The means for securing said springs are the same in each instance, and, therefore, I only specifically describe one of the means. This fastening means comprises an eye-bolt or hook 16 secured to the outer face of the back of the carriage, and the opposite end of the spring is secured to an eyebolt 17, which eye-bolt 17 extends through an aperture 18 of a vertically-extending portion 19 of an angle-plate 20. The vertically-extending portion 19 is integral with a horizontal, apertured portion 21. Suitable fastening means, as for instance, screws 22, are positioned within the apertures of the horizontal portion of the angle-plates 20, for securing said plate, preferably, to the side portion 1 of the platform or support. By means of nut 23, threaded upon the eyebolt 17, the tension of the spring 15 is controlled, thereby holding the same sufficiently taut or straight for retaining the carriage normally in the middle of the support or framework. As the springs become worn, the slack can be taken up by the manually the loweradjustable means, constituted by said eye' bolts, nuts, and angle-plates. This is a very important feature of the invention.

An operator or operators sitting in the seats 9 can shove the bodily-movable carriage longitudinally of the support by pressing the foot against the floor 3 and giving an outward push upon the carriage. By the employment of the springs or yieldable means 15, when the operator at one end shoves the carriage toward the end of the support or platform contiguous to the end of the carriage in which he is seated, the strain upon the springs at the opposite end of the device will be such as to draw the carriage in the opposite direction, as soon as the force of the shove given to the carriage by the operator has been overcome by the strain on the springs, thereby causing the carriage to have a reciprocating movement longitudinally of the base or support 1. Of course, this reciprocating movement will be greater if there is an operator at both ends of the carriage.

It will be obvious that the movement of the carriage is at all times against the tension .of, preferably, two of the springs, thereby causing the movement to be even and not permitting a jerk or other disagreeable motion. I have found from practical experience with my invention that the same produces an exhilarating effect, and is very simple to operate, because the carriage runs smoothly upon the rails, and the yieldable means or springs act as a cushion for the carriage when in motion.

What I claim is:

1. In a lawn coaster, the combination of a support, axles, Wheels engaging said axles and ositioned upon said support, blocks positioned upon the outer ends of said axles, a carriage provided With side portions, means detachably securing said blocks to the inner faces of the side portions of said carriage, and said carriage provided with seats engaging the upper ends of said blocks.

2. In a lawn coaster the combination of a support and a carriage adapted to travel upon said support, said carriage provided with side-portions and with seats formed at the ends of said side-portions, the carriage open at its middle and between said seats, detachable blocks positioned under and in engagement with said seats, detachable fastening means securing said blocks to the sides of said carriage, shafts journaled in said blocks and positioned between the side-portions, and wheels fixedly secured to the shafts between said blocks and inside of said carriage.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST LOMBARDO.

Witnesses:

O. C. WrLsoN, J. A. FRIEND. 

